Ch. vii. Of Poor-Laivs, continued. Ill 



kept up artificially, to throw great numbers of 

 workmen out of employment, and thus constantly 

 to increase the poverty and distress of the labour- 

 ing classes of society. 



If these things be so (and I am firmly convinced 

 that they are) it cannot but be a subject of the 

 deepest regret to those who are anxious for the 

 happiness of the great mass of the community, 

 that the writers which are now most extensively 

 read am.ong the common people should have se- 

 lected for the subject of reprobation exactly that 

 line of conduct which can alone generally improve 

 their condition, and for the subject of approbation 

 that system which must inevitably depress them 

 in poverty and wretchedness. 



Thev are tauoht that there is no occasion what- 

 ever for them to put any sort of restraint upon 

 their inclinations, or exercise any degree of pru- 

 dence in the aff'air of marriage ; because the pa- 

 rish is bound to provide for all that are born. 

 They are taught that there is as little occasion to 

 cultivate habits of economy, and make use of 

 the means afforded them by saving banks, to lay 

 by their earnings while they are single, in order 

 to furnish a cottage when they marry, and enable 

 them to set out in life with decency and comfort ; 

 because, I suppose, the parish is bound to cover 

 their nakedness, and to find them a bed and a 

 chair in a workhouse. 



They are taught that any endeavour on the part 

 of the higher classes of society to inculcate the du- 

 ties of prudence and economy can only arise from 



